Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1887-11-26


inoiocnt, we felt much interested in
Crociissa's story, and cultivated her ac-
qualntance upon every occasion. She
gave us flowers and berries gathered in
pretty little baskets improvised by her
self from chestnut leaves. and with her
eyes bent shyly on her knitting, talked
to us of her simple, uneventful life.
When Reno, her lover, was under dis.
cussion, which was frequently the case,
Crocifssa's large eyes glowed with O
soft, happy light, and she became bean.
tifnl. But the brightness vanished
quickly at memory of the sordid misery
encompassing them both. How we
longed TO be able TO give the poor girl
the paltry sum which would change her
dull surroundings into a paradise.
One morning, as we sat sketching on
the brow of the hill, Crocifissa timidly
approached us, carrying a small package
under her arm. This she unwrapped,
disclosing about four yards of unusually
beautiful lace, six inches or more wide.
was not much OF connoisseur in such
things, but could recognize the unusual
merit OF this piece.
"Why. Clocifissaw / exclaimed; /;
"where did you get such a prizei"
4 made it., she answered, modestly,
sat the Convent of La Speranza, where
waited on the nuns for five or six years.
They taught me to make it, but ! can't
see to do any more"
"But, child, why don't you sell this
lace. 1t would help you long step
towards buying furniture and marrying
Reno"
ALAS, signora, have often tried, but
nobody will buy it. The nuns say it is
woriha geat deal of money, perhaps fifty
:rancs but shall never find any one
willing to give that sum, and | would let
il go formuch less
She, of course, wished US to make some
low offer for the lace, but l knew it
would be great wrong to the girl to
elbow her to sacrifice her work for trif1e,
end assured ner of this Because we
could not afford to pay fair price, We
had no right to profit by the poor child's
Ignorance.
"The nuns would offer up special
prayers for me if gave it TO the con-
vent" continued Crociissa; "but
prayers will rot buy furniture-at least
they have not, so far
Don't despair of your prayers yet"
said Amy; then to me, in English,
"There is Mrs. Webster, the rich Ameri-
can lady at San Marcello; you know she
is mad over Iric-a brac, antiquities and
laces-especially laces She has heaps Of
money, and believe she would buy this
lace il she saw it.n
thought the suggestion an excellent
one, and so.eagcr were we to try if the
sale might not be brought about, that we
returned at once to call onr hostess into
consultation. The result of this interview
was. that the next day Crocifissa was
dispatched to San Marcelo with her lace,
and note to the landlord of the hotel
where Mrs. Webster was staying. In
three hours Croc 'ii,sa returned, jubilant,
because the landlord had promised to
show the lace to all the guests in his house
likely to BE- interested in such things.
We scarcely dared TO break to Gro
ciiissa the gnOlncws that came three days
later. Mrs. Webster had fallen in love
with the lace, as Amy had predicted, and
at the landlords suggestion had prom
isec to pay two hundred aud fifty francs
for the p.cce, on her departure month
later. In nthc meantime it might remain
upon exhibition behind the glass doors
Of the padrone's cabinet of curiosties.
1t made one feel young and happy agai,
TO see the bliss of Crocifissa and Re 10.
The latter was presented to us, and the
! good fellow seemed ready TO risk his life
TO serve us. Amy might ride on the
fruit-donkey at any hour of the day q
night she cho C, and it was borne in
upon me that "A particularly glaring pair
of magenta stockings in process of con-
s,ructiJn by Gro ,ifissa was for me.
The fortune Of the betrothed couple
being now secured, negotiations were
entered upon for the desired outfit OF
clothes and the necessary furniture. A
charming pair of rooms, in Crocifssa's
eyes, were bespoken. at the back of the
carpenters house, and the wedding day
was set early in October All was going
merry az the anti ti'ipatcd marriage bells,
when the day arrived for Crocihssa to ga
TO San Marcello and receive her money.
On her first visit she had seen only the
padrone. and was about to be given the
price of her lace and dismissed at once
/ ny I4iis hliths va lit
dec ded 10 detain her
"You had better go and thank the lady
for her kindness. YOURSELF" he said; ''it
looks more civil"
Gro ilissa was shown into Mrs. Web
sters room, marvel of ornamentatior
from all parts of the globe, and oi
var Gus centuries more or less authentic.
Mrs. Webster had, as Amy had main.
tanned, an idolatrous fondness for all
things antique; hideous Jug with q
crack upon its dirt-ingrained sides wal
lovel cr in her eyes than the most skill
fully worked vase of modern times Sht
willingly paid fabulous prices for rubbish
Of a bygone day, but was implacable il
she discovered fraud in the dates of ap
parently antique treasures.
In very bad Italian. she addressed
crocifssa, who, not understanding, re
Piled in u few words. which the eide
lady failed TO catch. The interview being
rather u trying one for both parties, Mrs
Webster was about TO end it by dis
missing Crociissa, when the girls mex
,....l. ,,,Io~et,n1 THE time eIaef al